Helping hand – Suarez's reputation as a pantomime villain dates back to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The striker used his hand to block a goal-bound shot in the last minute of extra-time in a quarterfinal tie between Uruguay and Ghana. Suarez was given a red card and Ghana were awarded a penalty. But Asamoah Gyan missed the spot kick and Uruguay won the resulting penalty shootout to reach the semifinals, breaking African hearts in the process. Suarez also has previous when it comes to biting opponents, after he bit PSV's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in November 2010. He was given a seven-match ban.

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Cantona's karate kick – Manchester United's Eric Cantona suffered a moment of madness during an EPL match at Crystal Palace in January 1995. Cantona had been given a red card for kicking an opponent and, while making his exit from the pitch, the Frenchman jumped over the advertising boards and aimed a scissor kick at a fan who he claimed was shouting insults at him. Cantona was banned for nine months and also served 120 hours community service.

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Paolo's push – Paolo Di Canio has often courted controversy during his career. The Italian, who recently faced allegations of holding fascist views following his appointment as Sunderland manager, pushed referee Paul Alcock to the floor during a match against Arsenal in September 1998. Di Canio was given a red card and suspended for 11 games.

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It is not just acts of violence which can make players unpopular. Brazil's Rivaldo was criticized, and ridiculed, following a group stage match against Turkey at the 2002 World Cup. Rivaldo went to the floor claiming Hakan Unsal had kicked the ball into his face, despite replays showing it had clearly hit him in the leg. Unsal was given a second yellow card and sent off, while Brazil went on to win the match 2-1. FIFA retrospectively punished Rivaldo with a fine, but the playmaker had the last laugh as Brazil went on to lift football's biggest prize for a record fifth time.

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Pinto's punch – Portugal's Joao Pinto drew criticism during the 2002 World Cup after punching a referee in the stomach. Pinto, who had been given a red card during the match against tournament co-hosts South Korea, was suspended for six months by football's global governing body FIFA.

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Zizou's outburst – Zinedine Zidane. a world and European champion and a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, ended his career in infamy at the 2006 World Cup. With the scores level at 1-1 in the final between France and Italy, the playmaker headbutted Italy's Marco Materazzi and was given a straight red card. France went on to lose the match on penalties and Zidane never played again. Materazzi later admitted to provoking Zidane by making remarks about his mother and sister.

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Pepe's punishment – Real Madrid defender Pepe has a notoriously short fuse. The Portuguese star was handed a 10-match ban in April 2009 for violent conduct, after kicking Getafe's Javi Casquero in the back while he lay on the floor. Moments before, Pepe had brought down Casquero to concede a penalty.

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Axel's assault – Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel was banned for eight matches after breaking Marcin Wasilewski's leg while played for Standard Liege against FC Brussels in 2009. Witsel has since joined Russia's Zenit St Petersburg.

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Valentin's vile lunge – Valentin Eysseric, who plays for French club Nice, was hit with an 11-match suspension following last month's match against Saint Etienne. The midfielder broke Jeremy Clement's leg and shattered several ankle ligaments following a shin-high tackle. Saint Etienne's fans have since displayed a banner saying "Support Clement" during their matches.

Suarez is a hate figure at Old Trafford after he was found guilty by the FA of racially abusing United's Patrice Evra in 2011.

He was hit with an eight-match ban and fined $63,000.

Suarez also courted controversy in Holland while at Ajax where he was banned for seven games after biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal's shoulder during a match in November 2010.

He is set to make his first Premier League start this season at bottom club Sunderland on Sunday.

Meanwhile, League Cup holder Swansea suffered a 3-1 defeat at 2011 winner Birmingham City while there were also wins for Arsenal, Newcastle and Stoke.

Serie A

Elsewhere in Europe, Roma is the only side left in the Italian top flight with a 100% record after securing a 2-0 away win over Sampdoria -- its best start to a Serie A season.

Second-half goals from Mehdi Benatia -- his first in Serie A -- and another from Gervinho ensured Rudi Garcia's side moved two points clear at the top of the table thanks to a fifth successive league win of the season.

Rafa Benitez's Napoli was surprisingly held 1-1 at home by bottom-of-the-table Sassuolo, which had suffered a shock 7-0 home defeat to Inter Milan at the weekend and prior to Wednesday had failed to win a single point.

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The draw left Napoli two points behind Roma and level with champion Juventus, which won 2-1 at Chievo.

AC Milan scored twice in the dying minutes to draw 3-3 at Bologna, while Lazio bounced back from its derby defeat to Roma by beating 10-man Catania 3-1.

Inter Milan could join Napoli and Juve on 13 points if it wins at home to Fiorentina on Thursday.

Ligue 1

In France, Ligue 1 leader Monaco remained two points clear of champion Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-0 victory at home to Bastia.

Emmanuel Riviere opened the scoring for Monaco before Ligue 1's top scorer Radamel Falcao's brace helped maintain Monaco's unbeaten start to the season.

PSG's record signing Edinson Cavani netted the only goal in first-half stoppage time as Laurent Blanc's side won 1-0 away to lowly Valenciennes.

"We burned a lot of energy in the Monaco match and only had three days to recover. It was a difficult match in all senses," PSG coach Blanc told reporters, referring to Sunday's 1-1 draw with the promoted principality club.

"But the important thing is to have taken the three points because we'll have plenty of matches like that over the course of the season."

It was Valenciennes' sixth successive defeat, which left the club second from bottom on just three points.